Tokyo -LRB- CNN -RRB- A Japanese court has issued a landmark injunction halting plans to restart two nuclear reactors in the west of the country , citing safety concerns , a court official told CNN .

Japan 's nuclear watchdog , the Nuclear Regulation Authority , had previously given a green light to the reopening of reactors 3 and 4 of the Kansai Electric Power Company 's Takahama nuclear plant .

But locals successfully petitioned the court in Fukui Prefecture , where the plant is located , raising concerns about whether the reactors would survive a strong earthquake .

Japan 's 48 nuclear reactors are offline in the wake of the Fukushima disaster in 2011 , when a tsunami triggered by a massive earthquake sent a wall of water crashing into the power plant .

Since then , the island nation has imported greater amounts of expensive natural gas and coal to meet its energy needs .

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has pushed for a return to nuclear energy , arguing it is essential to the country 's economic recovery to reduce the skyrocketing utility bills associated with energy imports .

But opinion polls have consistently shown public opposition to a nuclear restart .

Keith Henry , managing director of Tokyo-based Asia Strategy , which advises businesses on Japanese public policy issues , says the decision will force Abe to rethink the economics of his energy policy .

`` That was a body blow -LSB- for Abe -RSB- because it 's no longer a political issue , it 's a legal issue . It changes the calculus and the dynamics , '' he said .

`` It 's now in the courts . And the government is powerless to do anything about it . ''

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Anti-nuclear activists celebrated following the Fukui District Court 's decision in their favor Tuesday .

The nuclear plant operator had argued in court that the plant was safe , meeting heightened safety regulations introduced by the nuclear watchdog following the Fukushima disaster .

It said in a statement that `` scientific and professional findings '' showed that the safety of the reactors was assured .

But the court ruled that the new safety standards were `` loose , '' lacked rationality and could not guarantee the safety of the plant , an official said .

The power company said it would appeal the decision . `` We deeply regret that our assertion was not well comprehended , and can not accept it at all , '' it said in a statement .

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told reporters Tuesday that the country 's nuclear watchdog had deemed the plant safe according to the `` world 's strictest '' safety standards .

The government had no intention to change course on its planned nuclear restart , he said .

Takahama was one of two nuclear facilities granted approval to resume operations .

Sendai nuclear power plant in Kagoshima Prefecture has been granted approval to reopen by the prefecture 's governor , although local residents are seeking to challenge this in court .

Analyst Henry said the renewable energy sector could benefit from the Takahama decision , as the country weighed solar and hydro power as alternatives .

Prior to the Fukushima disaster , about 30 % of Japan 's energy was nuclear generated .

CNN 's Junko Ogura contributed to this report from Tokyo .

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The reopening of two nuclear reactors has been blocked by a Japanese court over safety fears

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The reactors had previously been cleared to reopen by the country 's nuclear watchdog

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Japan 's 48 nuclear reactors have been offline in the wake of the 2011 Fukushima disaster